Rotary motor.



H. S.I WHITE. ROTARY |V|0TOR. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26, 1915.

L19W%7 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.,

2 SHEETS-*SHEETL H. S. WHITE. ROTARY rwoToR. APPLICATION FILED DEC.l 26.1915.

Patented Apr 25,1916

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 TRUE/ZZ?? l HENRY s. wnrrn, or cnicAso, ILLINOIS.

no'rA'iaY Moron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ed December 26, 19,05. Serial No. 293,387.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY S. WHITE, a subjectof King Edward VH of Great Britain, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Rotary Motors, of which the following is aspecification.

rllhis invention relates to improvements applicable to all forms ofrotary engines but more particularly to heat or gas motors.

rilhe principal object of this invention is to embody in a mechanicalform, far more effectively than is possible in any form of reciprocatingmotors, the cycle of operations necessary to obtain from the combustionof anyl fuel within ful work done.

lAnother object simplification to its utmost both as to number and form,cal devices and operations necessary in the process 4of, thetransformation of heat into work.

These objects of this invention is the possible limits,

'cany never be eiiiciently obtained in a motor in which the principalvworking parts are reciprocating and l have, to overcome .as effec'therefore, endeavored tively as possible, the mechanical difficulties inthe way Pof 'obtaining the .desired-results' in a machine in which theprincipal working parts are rotating instead of reciprocating. Any ofthe cycles now carried out by" reciprocating motors may-be far moreeffectively carrield out by my rotary motor,l as will be fully shown andexplained in thesucceeding description of my invention. i

Two main i.- characteristic features differentiate the cycles ofoperations of all existing reciprocating motors, namely, eitherlthecombustible is mixed 4with air before compression, or vit is introducedinto the air after it has been compressed and heated. Far better resultsare obtained by the latthe former in the resimplities the mechanicaldevicesnecessary for putting-it into operation. Therefore,"pref erably,the form every rotary motor would take would be one in which the air iscompressed before the introduction -of the coin'- bustible; and for thisyreason il have more fully described and illustrated-in this -specitheworking part of said' motors the maximum possible result in use-` Iviously this waste is avoided by introducing of the mechani-l .of oneside of rllheV stationary erably made up'of three separate castings sotons 12 and -by mixing the air and combustible before compression. Atthe same time, it must be understood that the invention covers one cycleas fully as the other, and that each cycle can be equally as efficientlycarried out in my rotary motor and in each case far more eiiicientlythan can ever be possible in areciprocating motor.

The principal upon cycle is based is that which the preferred the numberof heat vunits contained in any combustible are far too great to bewholly converted into useful work done, and that therefore vthe majorityof these heat units are lost at the exhaust, and by absorption into awater jacket or other'means of artificial cooling. Ob-

cally carried out by my rotary engine, and vhave illustrated one form ofmy invention sheets of drawings on the accompanying this specificationin forming a part of which Figure 1 is an elevation partly in sectionthe motor; Fig. 2, is an edge view partly -in section of the same; Fig.3,

retener-.ti npr. a5, ieie.'

is'an elevation partly in sectionV of the side opposite to that'shown inFig. 1; Fig. 4,' is

an enlarged 4sectional view` through the valves and Fig 5, is a sectionon line 5-5 of Fig. fl. -V

' Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.\

' part of the motor is prefboltedor otherwise seform a solid casingconformed that when cured together `they taining two concentric annularchambers` and 8 which-are shown as being circular but may be of anydesired shape in crossA section; 7 is the'expansion chamber and 8 is thecompression chamber. i Piercing the casing v`'axially -is the ldrivingshaft 9 suitably journaled in the casing or otherwise upon which arekeyed or other--v wise secured, the revolving disks 10 and 11 carryingon their peripheral edges the' pisinthe an- 13 arranged to move nularchambers 7 and 8 respectively. The two annular chambers 7 and 8 need notnecessarily be'of equal diameter nor be disposed at equal distancesradially from the ythey are both alike,

center of the driving shaft, as shown. These details of constructionwill depend upon the varying conditions of work to be done by differentmotors.

The' passageway 14 which is provided with a valve 15, preferably abalanced valve, forms means of communication between the expansionchamber 7 and compression chamber 8. There may be one or more passages14, as desired, in a single motor, I have shown two such passagesarranged diametrically'opposite to each other and therefore two pistons12 and two pistons 13 but will describe and refer to only ,one with itscooperating'parts. it being understood that and both with theircooperating parts have the same efect'on the pistons 12 and 13.

The valve 15 is normally held-closed by a spring 16 and ispositivelyopened at the proper time by being connected to thesliding'rod 17 by means of the duplex-levers 18; the rod 17 being providedwith a fricf tion roller to travel on the surface 'of the cam 19 securedto the driving shaft 9, and provided with the raised portion 20. As theshaft 9 is rotated and the raised portion 20 passes under the frictionroller the rod 1K7 4will be shifted to open valve 15, and permit freecommunication between the chambers 7 and 8.

To admit or force combustible fluid into the expanson chamber 7 a needlevalve 21 is provided adjacent the valve 15 having its exposedstemprovi'ded with a cross arm or pin 22 arranged to extend into theslots 23 of the forked lever 24. One end of the lever 24 is pivoted at25 to an arm extending from the frame 6,A and the other end is connectedto the sliding rod26 provided with a friction roller to engage the disk27 provided with the adjustable cam 28 in such manner that as thefriction roller is engaged byl the cam 28 the valve 21 will be openedand admit the combustible fluid which enters the valve through the pipe29 into the expansion chamber 7. The rod 26 is mounted to slide in aguide bracket, 30 extending fromthe frame 6, and a coiled expandingspring 31 is interposed between the bracket 30 and a collar 32 securedon the'rod 26 to normally hold the'valve 21 in a closed position.

Asthe pistons v12 and 13 pass around in their respective .chambers inthedirection indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3 the two beingseparated by only a short 4dist/ance circumferentially, the piston 12approaches the valve 33 in chamber `ligand piston 13 approaches valve 34in chamber 8. While the pistons are thus' approaching the valves, valve33.is open and valve 34' is closed and with a pin 50 results inlcompressing the air in chamber 8 from the time that piston 13 has passedthe port 35, the compressing continuing until valve l5 is opened, whichoccurs immediately after piston 12 has passed valve 33 and said valve 33is closed. The opening of valve 15 permits the greatly compressed air topass from chamber 8 into chamber 7 and at Jronce closes. The instantvalve 15 is closed, needle valve 21 is opened and any oil as gasolene isforced under pressure into chamber 7 and mixed with the compressed air.The air byreason of its quick com pression has been raised to atemperature higher than the temperature of ignition of the fuel whichwill ignite as soon as it is introduced into chamber 7 and the expansionduring itsr combustion will force the piston 12 around in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The products of combustion areexpelled from the chamber 7 by piston 12 during the time it isapproaching valve 33 through the exhaust port 36.

The valves 33 and 34 vmay be of any desired construction'but I prefer tomake them cylindrical and provide each with a ierforation to registerwith-the chamber and 8 respectively when the valves are open. The

pistons 12 and 13 pass through these perforations in their respectivevalves in their passage around in the chambers 7 and 8, and toaccommodate the. passage of a portion of the peripheral edges of thedisks 10 and 11 a slot 37 is provided in each valve 33 and 34. Thepistons may be secured to the disks 10 and 11 by an extension 38provided on each `disk extending into a recess provided therefor in eachpiston.

rIhe valves 33 and 34 are opened and closed by partially rotating themthrough connections w'ith the driving shaft '9. Valve 33 has secured tothe exposed end of its stem 39 a crank arm"40, provided with a pin 41engaged by the forked end of a bell crank 42 pivoted to the casing 6 at43. The other arm of the bell crank is provided with a friction roller44 arranged to engage the disk 45 secured on shaft 9 and provided withthe cam` surface 46 in such manner that valve 33 `will be open when theroller 44. is traveling over the cam surface 46. The valve 33 isnormally forced to a closed position by a constant pull exerted by aspring or dashpot 47. l

The valve 34 hasl secured to the exposed end of its stem 48 a crank arm49 provided which is engaged by the forked end of one arm of abell-crank 51 pivoted to -the casing 6 .at 52. -The other arm of thebell crank 51 is made in the shape of a pawl 55 to engage the peripheryof the disk 53 secured on the shaft 9 and provided with the cam surface'54 in such manner that valve 34 will be opencwhen the` pawl 55 is inengagement with the cam surface 54. The 130 l valve 34 is normally heldin an open posi'- tion by a constant pull exerted by a spring ordash\pot 56.

The rod 17 is arranged to slide in the guide bracket 57 extending fromthe casing 6. The cams 28 are pivotally mounted on the disk 27 on thepins58 in suchI manner that the portion which is contacted by thefriction roller on the slide rod 26 can be increased kor decreasedinextent by swinging the cam 28 about the pivot 58.

When the portion of the cam 28 affecting the slide rod 26 is increasedin extent the amount of lfuel fed into ychamber 7 is increasedproportionately and when such portion of cam 28 is decreased the amountofv fuel fed into chamber 7 is proportionately decreased.v To effect anautomatic feeding of the fuel -into the chamber 7 a weight 59 isadjustably secured to the cam28in such manner that when the weight 59 isforced away from the shaft i, 9 by centrifugal force thev cam 28 will beIat swung about the l'pivot 5,8l` sof as to reduce the amountof fuel fedinto chamber 7 and when the speed allows the weight 59 to be drawn,Vback toward the shaft 9 by the Spring'GO on ac count of the reducedcentrifugal force'affecting such weight, the cam 28 will be moved aboutpivot 58 so` as to feed more fuel into the chamber '7. It willfbe seenweight 59 acts as a governor,

that this arrangement ofthe cam 28 and speed of the motor. Anyconvenient positive stop is providedl'for the weight 59, as"

the disk lsecured to the shaft 9. When two or more. cams 28 are providedonthe motor they are preferably connected by links 62 or other means tocompel them to move simultaneously. y f Any desired means for packingthe motor may be used but lf have shown spring rings on the pistons 12and 13 and `LJ-shaped annular'packing rings 3 on either side oftheperipheral edge of each disk 10 and 11. A short distance from theperipheral edge of each diskand on either side 10 and 11.

are oil grooves 64, and still farther toward the shaft 9 on eithersideof each disk are -the grooves 65 which contain 'packing to preventthe oil fromv grooves 64 working' toward the shaft 9. v

1t will be understood that numerous and in some cases very radicalchangescan-'be made in the construction of the motorand parts without inthe least departing from the spirit of the invention. -l

To carry out the cycle of the motor as described effectually the airmust have been compressed' at least sufficiently yto have raised itstemperature higher than the temperature of ignition of the fuel, and forreasons well known to those who have a knowledge of thermodynamics, toobtain a high` of the` shaft decreases andr regulating the.v

tilt

thermal efficiency, the compression should.

l be continued at least to a point as high as is possible without injuryto the material of which the motor and its parts are composed; whichwould be a temperature very much hi her than the temperature ofAignition of any liquid fuel, thus immediately loss of temperaturel dueto expansion, thus there is a period of isothermic expansion while thefuel continues to beI admitted.

The period of admission will depend upon the degree of compression butshould be so l proportioned 4that when the motor stroke is vcompletedthe air and the products of combustion have been expanded as nearly aspossible to `atmospheric pressure at the time they start to exhaust,thus being of `a temperature not much higher than the temperature'fofthe air previous to compression.l

If two such pairs of annular chambers as are shown in the drawingsshould be arranged upon the driving shaft in such a manner that thepistons of the respective ,pairs alternate with each other there will beno 'point in the cycle during which there is'no energy exerted to rotatethe driving shaft, thus lthere would be no necessity of va fly wheel.Furthermore it will be seen .that no artificial means ofignition 1srequired,

neither will thereA begany necessity of cooling the wallsf the'combustion chambers, thus eliminatingall such devices. as :thev

sparker, carbureter and water jacket. l

\ A motorjin whichan explosive .mixture is drawn' mto the'compressionchamber-1nstead 4of pure airwould be conslderedv asa modification of 'myinvention `so long `as the principles of construction and openation asdescribed areretained. 1n such'a modifcation it would be necessary ,toprovide-an igniter in the expansion chamber.

By the use of my invention-'t is possible to proportion the volumecompressed an.

the volume expanded to any desired ratio,

this being conveniently accomplished by. p

making the diameters of the two chambers differ in proportion to theratio desired.

Any convenient means can be provided to give the motor one revolutionin' order to start it. When it is desired to stop -the moi tor the fuelsupply is shunt 0H; this can easilybe done in the `construction shown inthe' drawings by taking holdof thelhandle 66 provided on the stem ofvalve 21 and turning said valve a one quarter revolution, which bringsthe pin or cross arm 22 in a position to registerv with the horizontalslot of the forked lever 24 and said valve stem will therefore not bemoved by the .lever 24, thus shutting off all supply of fuel throughneedle' valve 21.

.Insrnall motors of low power in which simplicity of construction. wouldbe more an object than economy of fuel orthermal eiciency, a stillfurther modification of the cycle in this motor would be to dispensewith compression altogether. The motor would then consist of one annularexpansion chamber only.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a lmotor, asuitable frame, two inclosed annular chambers in said frame circular incross section, a compression piston arranged to move in one of saidannular chambers, a working piston arranged to move in the other of saidannular chambers, a' passageway controlled by a valve formingcommunication between said two -ann'ular chambers, a valve in eachannular chamber to serve yas an abutment andpmeans whereby an explosivemixture is automatically introduced b'etween said two" pistons andignited by the action of said compresf sion piston. l

2'. In a rotary motor, the combination ofan inclosed' annularprchamberto form a charging chamber, a piston to move in said chargingchamber, a second inclosed annular chamber to form a power chamber, a

piston to move in said power chamber, a short connecting passage or portbetween said two chambers controlled by a valve, and means whereby the,said two pistons movein unison in their respective chambers, so thatduring the period of the trans- -fer of the charge, after compression,from the charglng chamber. to the power cham-- .ber said charge remainsat constant or approximately constant volume.

3. In a motor, a sultable frame, an 1nclosed annular chamber 1n saidframe, a'piston arranged to move in said annular chamber, an abutment 1nsaid chamber arrangedv to be moved to allow said piston to pass, a valvefor the admission of fuel into said annular chamber, a shaft towhichsaid piston is secured, a cam 'mounted to swing on a pivot securedto said shaft controlling the action of said valve, and a weightedadjust# subscribing witnesses this 19th day of Dep cember, 1905, atChicago, Ill.

4 HENRY S. WHITE.

Witnesses:

R. J. JACKER, LoYAL L.v SMITH. l

